Dear colleagues and friends,

Welcome to the heart of Andalusia!

Seville, the capital of Andalusia, will be hosting the 53^rd edition of our annual congress this year – our organisation's biggest event as it will bring together more than a thousand colleagues from all over the world.

The city of Seville, which straddles Europe and Africa, is deeply marked by a history that has always been woven by strands of different cultures. It is therefore an ideal location to gather together and have the opportunity to share, exchange our views and – why not – change our opinions completely.

Globalisation, Tolerance and the Law is one of the main themes we will be addressing during the congress. Dear to both the UIA and to Seville, which hosted all the world's nations in 1992 for the Universal Exposition, cultural diversity and its richness will be at the heart of the debates under this theme.

The African continent, close to southern Europe, will also have a place of honour in Seville where the first Forum for Africa will take place – a forum aimed at all those who are interested in African issues.

We will also devote two other themes to legal professional privilege and the decriminalisation of business law in order to enable you to compare the practices adopted in each of the countries represented with your colleagues. This will be another opportunity to strengthen solidarity and tolerance, and to share experiences between professionals, at a time when the world economic imbalance is striking at the roots of these values.

Bar leaders from all over the world will be invited to discuss these issues during the International Bar Leaders' Senate organised each year by UIA.

The sumptuous receptions that will be held will enable you to enjoy the grandeur of Seville's architecture. We will also hold a social event in the precincts of the Maestranza Theatre on the banks of the Guadalquivir and in a typical 'Cortijo' where we will discover the still living traditions of Andalusia.

Seville's dynamism and the warmth of the Andalusians are inviting us to adopt the Spanish pace of life for a time!

I look forward to seeing you there in large numbers for a crossroads of cultures that I promise will be as stimulating as it will be rewarding.

Prof. Dr Bernd REINMÜLLER
UIA President

Think of Seville and you can't help but get lost in a dream world. Its name comes from Ichbiliah, an Arabic adaptation of the Roman name for the city, Hispalis, which first found mention in literature thanks to Julius Caesar, who referred to it in his De Bello Civili. According to King Alphonse X the Wise, it was founded by Hercules, the mythical demi-god. But whether or not that legend is true, Seville is a divine land.

Anyone who has had the privilege to take a walk on Sierpes Road or Doña Elvira Square, in the Alcazar's gardens or along the banks of the Guadalquivir, understands why Seville gave the colours of their palette to its famous sons, Velasquez or Murillo, and why it inspired the lyricism of its poets, Becquer or the Machado brothers. They would also understand why Don Juan – a universal myth – was born in Seville. And the reason that Don Quixote – which, according to its author, "was engendered in prison" – was born in Seville's prison, as Cervantes spent some time there following the bankruptcy of the bank in which he had deposited funds that he had collected as a tax collector in Andalusia.

Seville is a cultural melting pot. The Italica's ruins prove that Seville was not dominated by the Romans, but that it is nonetheless Roman – two great emperors saw the light of day in this great city: Trajan and Hadrian.

It is also a Moslem city, as demonstrated by the Giralda, built in 1184 by Caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf who was inspired by the minaret of Marrakech's Koutoubiya Mosque, or the Torre del Oro or Gold Tower that was built by the Almohad Governor in 1220, panelled with gilded azulejos – glazed tiles that shone like gold under the sun. The presence of a Jewish community is imprinted in the Barrio de Santa Cruz – the old Jewish quarters or Jewry. The Cathedral – the world's biggest Gothic temple – along with other beautiful churches and monuments, proclaims that Seville is a Christian city. And the Archivos de Indias remind us of the close links tying this ancient city to Hispanic America.

Today, Seville is one of the Southern Europe's great cities. Its inhabitants are welcoming, jovial and hardworking. The Congress to be held here on October 27-31, 2009 – one of the best times of the year to visit Andalusia – will be the outcome of a skilful mix of work, immersion in the beauties of Seville's sites and good times, during which the Sevillans, with their proverbial joy for life and good humour, will help us share their traditions of feasting and celebration.

We are waiting for you in Seville.

Juan Antonio CREMADES
UIA President of Honour
Seville Congress President